Propelling, lifting, and steering device for airships



March 8, 1921. 2 I 18' I A. CHIARELLI PROPELLING, LIFTING, AND STEERING DEVICE FOR AIRSHIPS Fil ed Feb 4, 1926 v 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 I (Mom 131/ 4 ATTORNEY EgvToR.

March 8 1927.

A. CHIARELLI PROPELLING, LIFTING, AND DEVICE FOR AIRSHIL S 3 Sheets-Sheet: 2

" Filed Feb. 4} 1926 I IN VEN TOR @Jlwuxw ATTORNEY March -8 1927.

A. CHIARELLI PROPELLING, LIFTING, AND STEERING DEVICE FOR AIRSHIPS Filed Feb. 4, 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 v v I%V ENTOR Patented Mar. 8, 19217.

uni'reu STATES ANTONIO GHIARELLI, 0F NEVIYO'RK, N.

YPRGZE'ELLING, LIFTING, AND $TEERIIWG DEVICE FOB AIRSHIPS.

Application filed February 1, 1926. Seiial No. 815,902.

This invention relates to improvements in the art of aerial navigation, pai-ticularly to means which may equally well be used to propel and i'n-anrieuvre lighter than air and heavier than air crafts. such. as di-rigibles, balloons, aeroplanes or the like.

T he inventionhas for an object the provision ot an improved mecl ianism for oscillating; the wings of an air' ship, soas to propel and lift the said air ship.

A further object of the invention. is the provision of an. improved mechanism to steer and lifit'said' ail-"crafts, or to enable the said air ship to sail at high or low altitudes and to facilitate the ascent and the descent at the same.

For further comprehension of theinvention, and of the objects and advantages theneozt, reference will behadto. the following description andaccompany-ing drawings, and to. the. appended: claims in which the various novel features of the" invention are more' particularly set forth.

Fig. 1 of the drawings, is a perspective view of a dinigible air ship, showing my improved device attached thereto;

F igi. 2 oi the drawings, isa fragmentary central. sectional View of the mechanism for oscillating the wings-thereof.

Fig. 3. of the drawi11gs,'is a fragmentary top, planview,. partly in section, so as to expose certain working pants.

Fig. 4 of the drawings, isar sectional View taken on the line 4l4 of Fig; 2.:

Fig. 5: of the drawings, is a similar View taken on the line 55- 015 Fig. 2.

F ig. 6 of the drawings, is a similar View taken. on theline. 66. of Fig. 2;

F ig; 7 ot the drawings, is an. enlarged fragmentary top plan View of the dirigible airship. as: shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 8 is a detail View of the locking mechanism.

Figs 9 is a side elevational View, partly in section showing a. modification of my improved mechanism.

Fig. 10 is a sectional. view taken on the line 10-10ofFig. 9.

Fig. 11. is a sectional line 11-11 of Fig. 9.

Fig. 12 is a top plan view of the locking mechanism as used in connection with my mechanism.

F ig. 13is aperspective View of a modified view' taken on the wing reinforcing device as used con-nee tion with my improved lnechanisi n.

Fig. 1 1- is a sectional View taken on the line lat-14; oit Fig. 13.

The dirigible air buoyant, or lighter the use of helium, is provided with equipment as of the navigators and passengers thereof.

For propelling the diri gible air ships 10, I have provided a plurality of. wing. members 11 and 11, pivotally attached to Wing frames 12, as. at 13, and connected to each other. by rods=-12.. The inn-en wing members 11' are provided with attached to" the rods 15,. which are pivoted ontrames12 as at 15- Therw-ing'frames 12,.a-ire pivoted at their inner ends to supporting members 17 A rod 16 is pivotal ly attached to the supporting. member. 1'5- The said pinions 14, mesh with thepp'inions 18, which are rigidly attached to: the nod 1 6 which has also rigidhy attached theneto' a pinion 1 9 which meshes with the sector 20, which is attached to a pin 21,. and pivots in the. bearing 22'. supported by the arm 23, attached. to the su-pp'onting member 24. The sector 20 has an extended arm. 25 ,which is attached by means of a pin and slot connection as at 26, to a disc 2?, at or near its periphery. The disc 27 isrigidly attached togthe. jack? shaft: 28, rotatively' mounted in ship 10, comprises than air qualities, due to on any suitable gas, and the common otdi nary the bearings. 29,. suitably supported by the extended. arms 30, of the said supporting member 2 1. The bevel gean 31 is: rigidly attached. to thejackshaft 28, and meshes with the bevel pinion 32, rigidly attached to the motor shatt 33', which is notatiyely mounted. in. the bearings 31, and also supported. by the supporting member 241, and driven. or rotated by the motor 35,, which is of common ordinary construction such as commonly used ton dirigible, air and the like. The above described construction being such as willpermit thei motor 35, to oscillate. the wing frames 12 and wings 1-1 and 11- with; flftlll 12. Itbeing-nnderstood: that the wing members 11-, and the inner wingymem'b'ers 11", will be held in a closed position, as. shown in Figs: 1' and 2 of the accompanying. drawings, when the said wing. members 121 are oscillated in. a backward direction which will propel the pinions- 14,. rigidly.

generally used for the weltar e dirigible air ship 10 and that the said wing members 11, and the said inner wing members 11' will be in an open position when the wing frame is oscillated in a reverse or return direction.

One of the said pinions 18 has rigidly at tached thereto a face cam 36. The locking rod 37, is a slidable fit in the bearing 38, and has rotatively attached at its lower extremity a cam roller 39, so located, as to cause the locking rod 37 to rise and fall when the heretobefore mentioned wing frames are oscillated. The upper or free extremity of the locking rod 37, is so positioned as to engage and disengage the lock 40, with the wing frame 12, so as to hold the said wing frame 12 while the inner wing member 11 and the said wing members 11 assume their relative positions. It is readily seen that with the frame held stationary. and gears 18 turning gears 14, the wing member 11 will be caused to open, and rods 12 communicating this motion to wings 11. Thereafter the latch releases the frame, and the frame member moves forward. As the gears 18 reverse their direction of rotation, meshing gears 14 cause the wings 11, 11 to close, thereafter forcing the frames 12 backward.

As a means of limiting the oscillations of the above mentioned frame mechanism, 1 have provided bumpers 41, slidably mounted in the said dirigible air ship 10, as clearly shown in Fig. 7 of the accompanying drawing, and normally held in extended positions by the springs 42 it being understood that the said bumpers 41 are suitably positioned so as to strike the oscillating mechanism.

In order to provide lateral movement of the above mentioned mechanism viz, the motor and the frame device, I have provided a hand. wheel 43, rigidly attached to the shaft 44, which is rotatively mounted in the bearing 45, supported by any convenient portion or part of the said dirigible air ship 10, the sprocket wheel 46 is rigidly attached to the said shaft 44, and the sprocket chain 47 is extended over the said sprocket wheel 46 and the sprocket wheel 48, which is rigidly attached to the lead screw 49, rotatively mounted in the bearing 50 supported by the base 51 for the motor, which is fastened to the ship, the threaded arm 52 engages with the lead screw 49 and is rigidly attached to the sub-frame 3 of the base 51. The hand wheel 43 when rotated in either direction will move the said supporting member 24 laterally in either direction.

In order to rotate the above mentioned mechanism, I haveprovided a suitable crank handle 54, or hand wheel, attached to the sprocket wheel 55, which is rotatively mounted in the support 56, attached to the sub-frame 53, the'sprocket chain 57 is eX- tended over the said sprocket wheel and the sprocket wheel 58, which is rigidly attached to the shaft 59, rotatively mounted in the bearings 60, supported by the sub-frame 53. The said shaft 59, has rigidly attached thereto a worm 60, meshing with a worm wheel 61, or teeth out on the periphery of the said supporting member 24, it being understood that the supporting member 24 is of hollow cylindrical construction, and is rotatively supported by a plurality of rollers 62, rotatively mounted in supports 63 attached to the sub-frame 53, which is slidably engaged with the frame proper 64, as at 65.

Referring in particular to Figs. 9, 10, 11 and 12, of the accompanying drawings, in which I have shown a modification of my improved mechanism. The said pinion 19, meshes with a sector 66, pivotally attached to the pin 67, supported as at 68. and has an extended arm 69, engaging with the extended extremities 70, of the dog 7.1, pivoted as at 72, and provided with inner extended extremities 73, having rotatively attached thereto rollers 74, engaging with the eccentric'75, attached to the said motor shaft 33, allowing the motor shaft 33 to oscillate the said wing frames 12.

As a means of increasing or decreasing the amount or angle of oscilations, I have provided a hand wheel 76, attached to the shaft 77, rotatively mounted in suitable bearings 7 8, the worms 79 are rigidly attached thereto, and mesh with-the worm wheels 80, which are attached to the lead screws 81, which engage with the supports 82, as at 83, it being understood that the said wing frames are pivotally attached to the said supports 82. The extended arms 69 of the sector 66 swings from 67115 a center, and the dis tance from the dogs 73 to the pivot 67 determines the amount of oscillation distance, or amplitude. Sliding pins 81 are secured to support 82 and are adapted to engage in corresponding cars 81 to permit of varying the distance between the dogs 78 and the pivot point 67.

Referring in particular to Figs. 13 and 14 of the accompanying drawings, the said wing frames 12, are provided with extended portions 84, oppositely located thereto, and here attached thereto, a flexible member 85, which is extended over the pulleys 86, rotatively attached to any suitable portion of the said dirigible airship 10, the said flexible member is also extended over and wound around the pulley 87, which is rigidly attached to the said second vertical rod 16. Thus rigidity is added to the frame 12.

It will be understood that the hereinbefore described oscillating wing members 11 and 11, may be located at the front of a dirigible air ship or any other suitable positions. It being further understood that the said oscillating wing members when oscillated in a rearward direction will tend to cause a partial vacuum at the front of the ship or rerea ers move the air adjacent to the said oscillating members which will permit to pullthe ship forward, as is common to tractor types of d-irigible air ships and the like. It being also miderstood that a plurality of sets of horizontal wings may be operated all along the ship structure.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim new and desire to protect by Letters Patent of the United States is as follows g 1. In adevice of the class d 'escril'ed, having pivotally mounted frame members pivotally supporting wing members, the inner wing members havin 7 gears coaxially mounted to its pivot, and amotor having an eccentric' on the end of its shaft, the combination of a shaft, gears on said shaft meshing with said gears, a support. a gear sector pivoted to said support, said- ,q'ear sector being formed with an extended arm, another gear on said shaft meshing with said sector, another support, a dog pivoted to said support, one end of said dog engaging said eccentric, the other end engaging said extended arm, and means for changing the distance between said supports.

2. In a device of the class described, having pivotally mounted frame members pivotally supporting wing members, the inner wing members having gears coaxially mounted to its pivot, and a motor having an eccentric on the end of its shaft, the combination of a shaft. gears on said shaft meshing with said gears, a support, a gear sector pivoted to said support, said gear sector being formed with an extended arm, another gear on said shaft meshing with said sector, an other support, a dog pivoted to said support, one end of said dog engaging said eccentric, the other end engaging said extended arm, and means for changing the distance between said supports, said means comprising bearings. a shaft mounted in said bearing, a hand wheel on one end of said shaft. worms mounted on said shaft, worm wheels meshing with said worms, lead screws attached to said worm wheels, and lead screw engaging said supports.

3. In a device of the class described, having pivotall; mounted frame members pivotally supporting wing members, the inner wing members having gears coaxially mounted to its pivot, and a motor having an eccentric on the end of its shaft, the combination of a shaft, gears on said shaft meshing with said gears, a support. a gear sector pivoted to said support, said gear sector being formed with an extended arm, another gear on said shaft meshing with said sector, another support, a dog pivoted to said support, one end of said dog engaging said eccentric, the other end engaging said extended arm, and means for changing the distance be tween said supports, said means comprising bearings, a shaft mounted in said bearings, means for manually turning said shaft, worms moin rted: on said shaft, worm wheels meslring with said worms, lead screws attached to said worm wheels, said lead screw engaging said supports 4-. In a device of the class described, having pivotally mounted frame members pivotal ly supporting wing members, the inner wing members having gears coaxia-lly mounted to its pivot, and a motor having an eccentric on the end of its shaft, the combination of a shaft, gears on said shaft meshing with said gears, a support, a gear sector pivoted to said support, said gear sector being formed with an extended arm, another gear on said shaft meshing with said sector, another support, a dog pivoted to said support, one end of saiddog engaging' said eccentric, the other end: engaging said ext-ended arm, and means for changii-ig the distance between said supports, said means comprising bearings, a shaft mounted in said bearing, worms mounted on said shaft, worm wheels meshing with said worms, lead screws attached to said worm wheels, said lead screw engaging said supports.

5. In a device of the class described, associated with an airship, the combination of a base slidably mounted to said air ship, an arm depending from said base, a lead screw threadedly engaging said arm, said lead screw being rotatively supported, manual means for turning said lead screw, a supporting member rotatably mounted on said base, manual means for rotating said supporting member, a motor mounted in said supporting member, frame members pivotally mounted to said supporting member, wing members mounted in said frame members, and means for connecting said motor with said frame and wing members, to cause an oscillating motion of said frame and wing members.

6. In a device of the class described, associated with an airship, the combination of a base slidably mounted to said airship, an arm depending from said base, a lead screw threadedly engaging said arm, said lead screw being rotatably supported to said airship, manual means for turning said lead screw, said means comprising a sprocket wheel fixed to said lead screw, it sprocket chain engaging said sprocket wheel, anothersprocket wheel engaging said sprocket chain, a shaft suitably supported supporting said last mentioned sprocket wheel, and a hand wheel on said shaft, a supporting member rotatably mounted on said base, manual means for rotating said supporting member, a motor mounted in said supporting member, frame members pivotally mounted to said supporting member, wing members mounted in said frame members, and means for connecting said motor with said -frame and wing members, to cause an oscillating motion of said frame and wing members.

7. In a device of the class described, associated with an airship, the combination of a base slidably mounted to said airship, an arm depending from said base, a lead screw threadedly engaging said arm, said lead screw being rotatably supported, manual means for turning said lead screw, a supporting member rotatably mounted on said base, being guided on a plurality cl. rollers supported from said base, manual means for rotating said supporting 1nemher, a motor mounted in said supporting member, frame members pivotally mounted to said supporting member, wing members mounted in said. vframe members, and means for connecting said motor with said frame and wing members, to cause an oscillating motion of said frame and wing members.

8. In a device of the class described, as

sociated with an airship, the combination of a base slidably mounted to said airship, an arm depending from said base, a lead screw threadedly engaging said arm, said lead screw being rotatably supported, manual means for turning said lead screw, a supporting member rotatably mounted on said base, manual means for rotating said supporting member, said last mentioned means comprising teeth formed on the periphery of said supporting member, a worm meshing with said teeth, and means to rotate said worm, a motor mounted in said supporting member, frame members pivotally mounted to said supporting member, wing members lllULlIll'Gtl in said frame members, and means for connecting said motor with said frame and wing members, to cause an oscillating motion of said frame and wing members.

In. testimony whereof I have afiixed my signature.

ANTONIO CHIARELLI. 

